Means for and method of towing logs



Feb. 1, 1938. H. F. BERG 2,105,996

' MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF TOWING LOGS Filed Jan. 22, 1955 WMJ W JIYIIIIII O I'NVENTOR HFTBE/P 7 ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' Hilmer F. Berg; Port Angeles, Wash. 7 Application January 22, 1935, Serial No. 2,847

1 Claim. (Cl. 9-16) This invention relates to improvements in means for and methods of towing logs, and the like, and it has reference more particularly to a method of assembling and securing logs together in the form of a raft suitable for towing-in rivers or in the open sea; it being the principal object of this invention to provide a method and means for rafting logs that eliminates the necessity for and use of the usually employed boom sticks for em 10 closing the raft and also provides a form of log. rafting wherein the outside logs of a, raft are used in a manner that eliminates the necessity of boom sticks.

Explanatory to the present invention, it will 1 here be stated that heretofore the usual practice in assembling and rafting logs has been toprovide points, if desired,.by transversely disposed boom sticks. The logs embodying the raft proper are laid in close, parallel relation lengthwise of the raft between the boom sticks. Generally they float freely within the enclosure. When such a raft has been towed to its point of use, the boom sticks are disconnected sufficient to free them of the raft and are generally towed back to the location where they are again to be used. The provision'of the boom sticks;' the preparation for and the joining of them-together; the towing thereof; and their upkeep is an item of great expense especially by reason of the fact that the boom sticks, after delivery of a raft, must be towed back to place for assembling the next raft. Those who are familiar with log towing know that the loss of boom sticks is very heavy since in a swell they spin and twist the chains and break out the 40 chain holes.

In view of the above, it has been the principal object of this invention to provide a method of rafting which makes it possible and practical to utilize logs of the assembled raft to form a towing enclosure, and also to provide a special means for tying the logs together in the raft to withstand long and stormy trips and to insure against break up or loss of logs in heavy seas.

More specifically, the object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel form of a log connecting loop for rafting purposes, that may be quickly applied and easily removed without any material damage to the log and without the boring of holes through the logs as is usually done.

Other objects reside in the method employed, in

the details of construction, in the combination of parts and in their mode of use, as will hereinafter be described.

.In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details. 5 of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig.1 is a plan view of a log raft assembled in accordance with the present invention and utilizing the log connecting loop of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view iilustratingthe connecting loop and the manner of using it in connecting logs.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the special form of. at-

taching dog employed with the loop.

Fig. 4 is a side view-of the same.

Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, are plan and side views of a form of dog used with the cross cables.

Referring morein detail to the drawing- In making up a raft, the logs are assembled in parallel relation longitudinally of the raft, as seen in Fig. 1, and usually in a plurality of tiers that extend transversely thereof, with the logs of each tier in end to end relation with logs of the adj acent tiers.

Inaccordance with this invention, no special boom sticks, as generally prepared, are employed but in assembling the raft precaution is taken that suitable logs are selected for the outside or ends of the various tiers of logs for use temporarily to enclose the raft and those logs thus selected for the forward tier are tied at their forward ends to a transversely disposed log which serves to retain their spacing, and to which transverse log the raft towing cable or cables may be attached.

The forward ends of the outer end logs of the second tier are joined to the rearward ends of the corresponding logs of the forward tier, and likewise, the outer logs of each succeeding tier of the raft are joined with those of the next pre- 40 ceding tier.

In the present illustration, I designates the inside logs constituting the raft proper, 2-2 designates the outside or end logs of the forward tier which serve temporarily during the towing operation to enclose the raft, 3 is the transverse log across the forward end of the raft and 4-4 are towing cables attached thereto. The outer end logs of the second tier are designated by numerals 5-5 and those of the third tier by numerals 66. The forward ends of the logs 2-2 are attached by cables I to the transverse log 3 for towing through the mediacy of cables 4-4.

In order that the logs I may be secured and retained within the outside logs of the raft, cables 8 extend transversely across the raft at suitable points in accordance with the teachings of my United States patent, No. 1,960,570, issued on May 29, 1934. These cables 8 are secured at their opposite ends about the outside logs of the raft and are threaded through attaching dogs of a special form to form a secure connection with each log that prevents loss of logs from the raft in heavy seas. There is a dog for each log, and each of these dogs comprises a plate 9 formed with an eye member 10 through which the cable extends; the plate being secured to the log by a screw spike l I. The spike may be easily driven and be withdrawn. This dog is like that which is well described in the above mentioned patent.

The particular novelty of the present invention resides in the use of certain logs of the raft proper as enclosing and towing means, and this is made practical as well as possible to a material extent by reason of the special form of means employed for joining together those logs which serve in the capacity mentioned. The tie is shown 'best in Fig. 2 and it comprises a cable I3 usually formed in a continuous loop. The two longitudinal strands, designated in Fig. 2 by reference characters I 3a and lb, that extend between the opposite ends of the loop, are threaded through dogs of a special form which are attached to the logs to provide for tightening the loop to prevent it slipping from the logs. Each dog comprises a substantially flat plate I4 which in use is disposed transversely across the outside of the log. Each plate is formed at its opposite ends with eyelets or loops l5 and I5 forming transverse passages I6 and I6 for the cable, and is formed centrally with an opening I! through which an attaching screw spike l8 may be extended and driven into the log.

In attaching the loop 13 to the adjacent ends of two logs, as shown in Fig. 2, the loop may be applied to the dogs before or after application to the logs. In the event that the loop is formed by a continuous cable, then the dogs should be applied to the loop prior to the latter being applied to the logs that are to be connected. Then after the ends of the loop have been looped about the ends of adjacent logs, the dogs are attached to the logs by means of the screw spikes l8. In this manner of connection, when pull is exerted on the loop connection, the ends of the loop are drawn through the dog eyelets and tightened about the logs, and the greater the pull, the greater is the bite of the loop into the logs.

In the event that the dogs should be applied to the logs prior to applying the cable loop 13, the ends of the cable forming the loop would not be connected but would be free for threading through the dog eyelets, and then after being looped about the log ends would be joined in any suitable manner by twisting, tying, or clamping them together. i

The same form of connection as used for joining the ends of logs along the side of the raft may be used to connect the forward ends of logs 2-2 with the transverse log 3. In this event, the cables I would be in the form of the loops applied at their ends about the logs and secured against slippage therefrom by threading through the eyelets of dogs 9 applied to the logs, as shown in Fig. 1.

When a raft has been assembled as above described, it may be towed to its point of use in the usual manner of towing rafts and at that point the dogs may be withdrawn or detached by pulling the screw spikes l8. Then the cable loops are slipped from the logs and all are free for use. The cables and dogs may then be transported to the location of next use.

By the present method, the cost in time and money of towing is materially reduced; no extra.

weight is towed with the raft and no towing of boom sticks back to place of rafting is required. Expense is cut by reason of there being no expense either in preparing or upkeep or towing of boom sticks.

There is a material advantage also by reason of the insurance against loss of logs in rough water and also in the use of screw spikes I8 as distinguished from other means of attaching cables and chains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A log towing dog comprising a plate adapted to be disposed transversely upon a log and having a centrally located opening therethrough and formed at its opposite ends with eyelets to serve as reeveways for opposite sides of a cable that may be looped about the log to which the plate is applied, a spike extended through the opening in the plate comprising a shank portion on which the plate may pivot, a head for retaining the plate on the spike and by which the spike may be driven into the log; the lower end portion of the spike comprising a flattened and twisted blade portion.

HILMER 'F. BERG. 

